Soil Functions and Soil Protection

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The research group focuses on the functions and related ecosystem services of forest soils. On one hand, the group studies the mechanisms, that are the basis for soil functionality, on the other hand it assesses the impact of external pressure and contamination on soil functions and fertility.

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Projects

Give and take: how much water does soil retain for trees?

Knowledge about plant available soil water is often the missing link to understand large-scale vegetation health observations. This project aims at modelling soil water fluxes with an emphasis on below-ground processes to improve our ability to explain patterns of impacted forest health condition.

Restoration of species rich grasslands

Restoration of species rich grasslands from species poor agricultural sites was successful in several projects and studies. However, the existing vegetation including the roots and the nutrient enriched topsoil had to be removed in most of the successful examples. The impact of such radical disturbances on soil organisms and soil functions has not yet been assessed. Our study aims on shedding more light into these aspects.

N2O emissions from soils

This project is part of the large multidisciplinary CCES project RECORD-Catchment, which investigates various aspects of river corridor management in the River Thur catchment. This SNF funded sub-project investigates factors on the microscale that govern the greenhouse gas potential of floodplain and related gleyic forest soils. This includes soil aggregation, plant - soil - microbe interactions and litter accumulations.

QuercAdapt

We investigate the relationship between genetic variation and environmental factors, notably soil characteristics, in three native oak species. Thereby we can investigate the adaptedness of the different species and provenances in the context of silvicultural practice under climate change.

Fahrversuch in Rückegassen mit halber Ladung

In einem Befahrungsexperiment mit einem Forwarder im Forstbetrieb Wagenrain in Bremgarten AG wurde untersucht, wie sich das Befahren bestehender Rückegassen mit voller und mit halber Zuladung auf die Tiefenwirkung der Verdichtung und auf die Spurbildung auswirken.

Soils and water regime of Swiss forests

For the whole forest area of Switzerland, we will map soil properties that are relevant for the water regime of forest stands. Based on this data we will run a water balance model for the 6000 plots of the National Forest Inventory (NFI) from 1980 to 2100 in order to detect regions that likely will suffer under increased drought in the near future.

Stable isotopes treerings and foliage

Using nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes of beech and spruce tree-rings and foliage, we investigate the influence of N deposition and drought on forests.

Nitrate Leaching under changed climate conditions

Nitrate concentrations in groundwater have increased, mainly due to intensive agriculture, and constrain its usage as drinking water in parts of Switzerland. Nitrate leaching from forests are, in comparison, generally small but may increase due increased nitrogen deposition and warm and dry periods. This project aims on exploring the possibilities and limitations for a better estimation of the risk of future nitrate leaching from forests.

Soil as a site factor

This project delivers soil and site related information for Swiss forests which are based mainly on measured values: (i) response of tree species relating to direct and indirect environmental variables, (ii) quantitative characterisation of species' ecological niche and (iii) soil ecological indicator values for forest plant species.

Genetic Variation

Die Klimerwärmung dürfte den Wald auf vielen Standorten unter Stress setzen. Wir untersuchen, ob die genetische Variation der Waldbäume es ihnen erlaubt, sich an den Klimawandel anzupassen. Wir fokussieren dabei auf die drei häufigsten Baumarten in Schweizer Wäldern, die Fichte, die Tanne und die Buche.

BigLink-SoilSolution

This project is part of the multidisciplinary CCES project BigLink (“Biosphere-Geosphere interactions: Linking climate change, weathering, soil formation and ecosystem evolution”). It studies the plant-soil-microbe interactions at early succession stages in the Damma glacier forefield occurring in response to limited nutrient availability.

Soil compaction

Soil compaction caused by passage of logging machinery reduces the soil air capacity. Prolonged compaction of forest soils might enhance greenhouse gas-producing microbial activities and induce a change in the soil microbial community and favour organisms capable of tolerating anoxic conditions.

Physical soil protection

Soils fulfill various functions. As a consequence of land cultivation and of the emission of harmful substances from various sources, the soil functions are endangered. In the research topic “soil protection” the main threats and their effects on the soil functions and hence on soil fertility are investigated.

Impact of leaf litter collecting in forests

Only 150 years ago, Swiss forests were markedly affected by agro-forestal uses. In many places leaf litter was collected for different reasons. By experimental removing of the leaf litter, we examine the ecological consequences of this forest use and we evaluate it's potential as a new tool for nature conservation in forests.

Treeline in Ural

Historical photographs document that the upper treeline of the Ural mountains has moved up 60 to 80 m during the last century. We assess how the expansion of forests into tundra affects soil organic matter dynamics in the pristine Southern, Northern and Polar Ural.

Soil solution in LWF plots

The chemistry of soil solution and the soil water availability for plants have been monitored since 1997 in seven forest plots in Switzerland. This project, linked to the Swiss Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research project (LWF), aims to assess the soil response to atmospheric pollution (acidifying substances and nitrogen) and to climate change.

Biogeochemical cycling and ground vegetation

The better understanding of the processes driving the dynamics of forest ecosystems requires the documentation of the constantly interacting compartments and fluxes of the biogeochemical cycle. Scientists study two fluxes (deposition of nutrients through precipitation and litterfall) and two compartments (foliage and ground vegetation).

Soil matrix LTER

Since 1996, the long-term forest ecosystem monitoring program LTER observes the development of 16 selected forest ecosystems in Switzerland. Considering their pivotal role the investigations of soils is of central importance for the program.

TreeNet

TreeNet is a biological drought and growth indicator network of forest ecosystems. It provides information about drought responses of trees all over Switzerland and their effects on the carbon balance of forests. TreeNet links the research of the eddy flux super sites Davos and Lägeren to the forest next to your home.

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